Kunit Nagra’s Winnipeg Jets content on Hockey Hot Stove is powered by University Centre Dental and Island Lakes Dental Centre in Winnipeg. Creating beautiful smiles with a staff you can trust to provide exceptional patient care.
The Winnipeg Jets suffered a 4-2 road loss on Saturday night at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. The Jets have now lost nine consecutive games. The futility streak began with a 2-1 OT loss to the same Senators on Monday December the 15th at the Canada Life Centre.
Jets hit rock bottom
With the loss, the Jets are entrenched in last place in the National Hockey League standings with 34 points. Quite a precipitous fall from winning the President’s Trophy last season. With almost half of the season done, the Jets sit nine points out of the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference. There are seven teams between them and the San Jose Sharks in the standings for that last playoff spot. The playoff odds grow slimmer and slimmer.
Jets Olympians
In the last few days, the rosters were announced for the 2026 Winter Olympics which will be played in Milan, in the month of February. In the midst of an otherwise lost season, the Jets will be well-represented in this tournament. Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck are on Team USA. Team Canada selected Josh Morrissey. Mark Scheifele missed the cut for Team Canada. However, should there be an injury to any of the Canadian forwards, Scheifele may top the short list of replacements. Frankly, his omission is a tough pill to swallow. Scheifele has had a career year thus far with 48 points (20G, 28A) through 40 games.
World Juniors Update
The Jet have two defencemen playing for Team Sweden in the World Junior Tournament. Alfons Friej is tied for the tournament lead in assists with seven helpers through five games. The Jets drafted Friej in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Meanwhile, Sascha Boumedienne has one goal and two assists through five games. Boumedienne was Winnipeg’s first-round pick of the 2025 draft. Both prospects have had a good showing thus far for the Swedish team that has reached the final four of the tournament.
Jets return home
The Jets return home Tuesday night as they host the Vegas Golden Knights in the first game of a first-game homestand. If the Jets are still in last place in the league standings at the conclusion of this homestand, we may start seeing some players on expiring contracts traded before the Olympic trade freeze kicks in on February 4th .
What do you make of Chevelallseasonoff’s nonsensical ramblings during his last press conference? This man has got to go. I nominate Jack McDonnell as the next GM of the Jets. Jack is the head of scouting for Dallas and seems to have a good eye for talent evaluation.